Breathe in and out I kept telling myself. Take a deep breath. It's going to be ok. I sit down, holding my stomach. My heart was racing 100 mph and I felt dizzy. My insides were shaking and it's this hopeless scary feeling that creeps up so fast, you start to panic over panicking. Every situation that could ever happen is playing through your mind over and over again. Things that probably will never happen is playing over in your mind. You think about what could happen, what if they say this, what if I fall, What if?...They way you feel 9 times out of 10 is a thousand different emotions balled up into one and exploding at once. Your chest is tight , your throat is closing in. Your palms start to sweat. No one in this world could ever know how you feel. They will never know how hard it is to live with anxiety, gripping fear of the unknown.
It wakes you up at 3 am. Your heart racing and thoughts running through your mind like a marathon. You can't get it to go away, you can't get it to stop. You lie awake for hours so tired the next morning. You feel alone and isolated because you can't explain in fullness of what exactly it is that you feel. You tuck it away and smile. You don't want to seem weak.
Anxiety robs you from sleep, a normal life, happiness, joy and fulfillment. It literally paralyzes you and keeps you from reaching your goals and your full potential. What if I told you that there was a way out and your life was never meant to feel this way. There is a man named Jesus he came so that you would have life and have it more abundantly.
- John 10: 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
God never intended for you to live life in bondage. He has placed a desire and a purpose in each of you. His plan for you is to walk in fullness in the life he has given you. The enemy comes to rob you of this.
- Peter 5: 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
I have struggled with anxiety for a very long time. I had panic attacks all the time. I was in and out of the doctor. Tired medication and it made me sleepy. I wasn't myself. I really got to the point where I came to a head with my anxiety. I chose freedom and chose not to allow anxiety to rule my life anymore. I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.
No its not that simple. You can't just snap your fingers and it go away. Here are some practical steps that I found helped me and still do.
1. Grow in you walk with God. The closer you walk with him and the longer you walk with him the stronger you will be. He will protect you and give you the strength you need.
2. Read his word. Study his word and memorize scriptures that will help you when you are struggling. He has given us this tool the bible to use when encountering issues and problems. Use it!
3. Pray! Pray! and Pray! He longs for you to talk to him. I encourage you, before you pick up the phone and call a friend or a family member to vent or cry. Call out to him. Vent, cry and ask him to help you. Then sit. Listen. He will speak to you if you only you be still.
4. Start speaking life over yourself. Do not speak words of negativity. Don't say things like I can't, I won't, I don't or it will never happen. Say I can! I will! I did and I will overcome! You will start believing in yourself, even when others don't.
5. Last but not least. Surround yourself with positive people. People that speak life in to you. Pray for you and with you. If you are not involved in a life breathing church, find one. Get involved. I promise you that your life will begin to change the moment you allow God in and allow him to take over.
Today I want to let you know there is hope. God is here and there are people that love you and want to see you succeed in life. If you don't know the words to say below is a prayer. Ask him now to start with you in this journey, even though he has been there the whole time.
"God I thank you. I thank you for your promises, that you said that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you for the tools that you have given me to use to fight the enemy and overcome anxiety. You know the plans that you have for me. I may not know what they are, but I know that you meant them for good and not harm. I trust you today. Give me the strength to overcome anxiety. Allow me draw close to you and I will give up my desire to be in control. I know that I can't control the situations that arise and I know that if you are in control I will find peace. Amen."
"I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God."
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